Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Lauds the Ethnikos Kyrix “Miracle”

Published at14:39, May 31 2015

[The following is the English text of the letter sent by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Antonis Diamataris, Publisher-Editor of the National Herald, on the occasion of the newspaper’s 100th anniversary. The letter, including another in Greek, was read by Archbishop Demetrios of America on the gala celebration on May 22.”]

The esteemed Antonis Diamataris, Publisher-Editor of the National Herald, published in New York, our beloved son in the Lord: grace and peace from God be with you.

It is with paternal joy that we received your dear letter dated February 12, 2015, submitting to the Mother Church and us the information regarding the completion this year of an entire century since the first publication and uninterrupted circulation in America of the respected newspaper, the National Herald, currently managed by you.

In your letter to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, you observe that this “historical event is dedicated to the Greek community and those who made this miracle possible,” namely the publication for one hundred years of a community newspaper for the wider distribution of news about the activity and growth of our Greek Orthodox people there.

It is true that, since the migration for over a century of thousands to the “New Continent,” numerous offspring of our pious Nation have become prosperous and distinguished through hard work and despite difficulties, attaining their livelihood as well as their success in their professional but also their broader social and academic life, preserving their identity always under the inspired guidance of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, while also recording their historical journey through the columns of the National Herald, which is now celebrating its hundredth anniversary.

The National Herald has undoubtedly played a pioneering and significant role in the field of informing our community in America for a century by becoming a bond between the Greek community and metropolitan Greece, as well as a herald of the immortal values of Orthodoxy and our devout Nation, which are represented by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

As is known, in order for a publication of our community to be established and validated within the inexorable rules of the market, especially in America, it was obliged to cover many needs of the early migrants, beyond merely providing political and general information as well as conveying news from the lands of origin of its readers. The National Herald managed to become the voice of the Greek community, the permanent reminder of language, the timely disseminator of information, the voice of Orthodoxy and especially of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the promoter and supporter of community and Greek positions generally.

The presence of your newspaper in the American political and social life, as well as its effort to advance and advocate rightful community requests over the decades of the wars, but also the recognized support of young people in the domains of culture, commerce, politics, business, education and the like – all of these are of course admirable.

In the commendable course of its first century of existence, through the manifold care and concern as well as the tireless efforts of its inspiration and founder – but also its various directors, occasional editors and many journalists the National Herald reached its current enviable position, also thanks to the many years of service and solid managerial talent of its present leader, esteemed and beloved Mr. Diamataris, inasmuch as, with stable and determined steps, you make use of every technological progress, every new form of electronic and printed information as well as with a wide network of journalists and correspondents, who provide praiseworthy success and broad circulation.

Our Patriarchal blessing and the prayers of the Mother Church, as we follow the steady – both upward and forward – growth of the National Herald, also turn to the memory of those no longer living, yet who contributed to what you, Mr. Diamataris, called “a miracle,” as well as to your continued success in the new century that now opens up and which we hope will be equally worthy of its earlier heritage and tradition.

We bestow on your esteemed direction and the collaboration of your colleagues, as well as all readers of the National Herald our paternal and Patriarchal blessing, and invoke upon you the grace and boundless mercy of God.